In this Edition
March 22, 2022

Does Your Business Barter? Here Are Some Facts You Should Know

PODCAST: Tips for Individuals Dealing With the IRS

What to Do About Fraudulent Credit or Debit Card Charges

Hiring? You May Be Eligible for a Valuable Credit

Numerous Tax Limits Affecting Businesses Have Increased for 2022
Does Your Business Barter? Here Are Some Facts You Should Know
In today’s economy, many small businesses are strapped for cash. They may find it beneficial to barter or trade for goods and services instead of paying cash for them. Bartering is the oldest form of trade and the internet has made it easier to engage with other businesses. But if your business gets involved in bartering, be aware that the fair market value of goods that you receive in bartering is taxable income. And if you exchange services with another business, the transaction results in taxable income for both parties.

How It Works

Here are some examples:

  • A computer consultant agrees to exchange services with an advertising agency.
  • A plumber does repair work for a dentist in exchange for dental services.

In these cases, both parties are taxed on the fair market value of the services received. This is the amount they would normally charge for the same services. If the parties agree to the value of the services in advance, that will be considered the fair market value unless there’s contrary evidence.

In addition, if services are exchanged for property, income is realized. For example,

  • If a construction firm does work for a retail business in exchange for unsold inventory, it will have income equal to the fair market value of the inventory.
  • If an architectural firm does work for a corporation in exchange for shares of the corporation’s stock, it will have income equal to the fair market value of the stock.

Barter Clubs

Many businesses join barter clubs that facilitate barter exchanges. These clubs generally use a system of “credit units,” which are awarded to members who provide goods and services. The credits can be redeemed for goods and services from other members.

In general, bartering is taxable in the year it occurs. But if you participate in a barter club, you may be taxed on the value of credit units at the time they’re added to your account, even if you don’t redeem them for actual goods and services until a later year. For example, let’s say that you earn 2,500 credit units one year, and that each unit is redeemable for $2 in goods and services. In that year, you’ll have $5,000 of income. You won’t pay additional tax if you redeem the units the next year, since you’ve already been taxed once on that income.

If you join a barter club, you’ll be asked to provide your Social Security number or Employer Identification Number. You’ll also be asked to certify that you aren’t subject to backup withholding. Unless you make this certification, the club is required to withhold tax from your bartering income at a 24% rate.

Reporting to the IRS

By January 31 of each year, a barter club will send participants a Form 1099-B, “Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions,” which shows the value of cash, property, services and credits that you received from exchanges during the previous year. This information will also be reported to the IRS.

Conserve Cash, Reap Benefits

By bartering, you can trade away excess inventory or provide services during slow times, all while hanging onto your cash. You may also find yourself bartering when a customer doesn’t have the money on hand to complete a transaction. As long as you’re aware of the federal and state tax consequences, these transactions can benefit all parties. If you need assistance or would like more information, contact us. 

Aaron Boettcher, CPA
D 920.337.4523
PODCAST
Health Savings Account

With the changes to tax laws over the last few years, most taxpayers now take the standard deduction. This limits the number of tax deductions available for medical costs. Understanding and utilizing Health Savings Accounts is essential since you can take a deduction even if you take the standard deduction.
What to Do About Fraudulent Credit or Debit Card Charges
It’s an awful feeling to learn that someone has used your credit or debit card to make fraudulent charges. Whether you’re liable for charges typically depends on the type of card, whether you still possess the card and when you alert the issuer.

Credit Cards

If your credit card is lost or stolen and you report it to the card provider before it’s used in a fraudulent transaction, you can’t be held responsible for any unauthorized charges. If you report it after unauthorized charges have been made, you may be responsible for a specified dollar amount in charges. Some card issuers have decided not to hold their customers liable for any fraudulent charges regardless of when they notify the card company. And if your account number is stolen but not the actual card, your liability is $0. But either you or the card issuer must identify the fraudulent transactions for them to be removed.

When reporting a card loss or fraudulent transaction, contact the issuer via phone. Then follow up with a letter or email. This should include your account number, the date you noticed the card was missing (if applicable), and the date you initially reported the card loss or fraudulent transaction.

Debit Cards

If you report a missing debit card before any unauthorized transactions are made, you aren’t responsible for any unauthorized transactions. If you report a card loss within two business days after you learn of the loss, your maximum liability for unauthorized transactions is $50.

But if you report the card loss after two business days but within 60 calendar days of the date your statement showing an unauthorized transaction was mailed, liability can jump to $500. Finally, if you report the card loss more than 60 calendar days after your statement showing unauthorized transactions was mailed, you could be liable for all charges.

What if you notice an unauthorized debit card transaction on your statement, but your card is still in your possession? You have 60 calendar days after the statement showing the unauthorized transaction is mailed to report it and avoid liability.

Safest Choice

If you’re unsure about the specific conditions that trigger liability for unauthorized charges, contact your card issuer.

Charlie Wendlandt, CPA
D 715.384.1986
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Hiring? You May Be Eligible for a Valuable Credit
Are you a business owner who needs to hire? Be aware that a law enacted at the end of 2020 extended through 2025 a credit for employers that hire individuals from one or more targeted groups, listed below. Employers can qualify for a tax credit known as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that’s worth as much as $2,400 for each eligible employee. For certain veterans, the credit can be up to $4,800, $5,600 or $9,600, and for “long-term family assistance recipients,” up to $9,000 (more about these later). Employees who qualify for the credit must begin working for the employer before January 1, 2026.

Generally, an employer is eligible for the credit only for qualified wages paid to members of a targeted group. These groups are:
1). Qualified members of families that receive assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program,

2). Qualified veterans,

3). Qualified ex-felons,

4). Designated community residents,

5). Vocational rehabilitation referrals,
6). Qualified summer youth employees,

7). Qualified members of families in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP),

8). Qualified Supplemental Security Income recipients,

9). Long-term family assistance recipients, and

10). Long-term unemployed individuals.
Employers Must Meet Certain Requirements

Many conditions must be fulfilled before employers can qualify for the credit. Each employee must have completed a minimum of 120 hours of service for the employer. Also, the credit isn’t available for employees who are related to the employer or who previously worked for the employer.

The rules and credit amounts differ for specific employees. The maximum credit available for the first year’s wages is $2,400 for each employee, or $4,000 for a recipient of long-term family assistance. In addition, for those receiving long-term family assistance, there’s a 50% credit for up to $10,000 of second-year wages. The maximum credit available over two years for these employees is $9,000 ($4,000 for year one and $5,000 for year two).

For some veterans, the limits are $4,800, $5,600 or $9,600.  For summer youth employees, the wages must be paid for services performed during any 90-day period between May 1 and September 15. The maximum WOTC credit available for summer youth workers is $1,200 per employee.

Employers of all sizes are eligible to claim the WOTC. This includes both taxable and certain tax-exempt employers located in the United States and in some U.S. territories. Taxable employers can claim the WOTC against income taxes. However, eligible tax-exempt employers can only claim the WOTC against payroll taxes and only for wages paid to members of the qualified veteran targeted group.

A Credit Worth Pursuing

Additional rules and requirements exist. In some cases, employers may elect not to claim the WOTC. And in limited circumstances, the rules may prohibit the credit or require an allocation of it. However, for most employers that hire from targeted groups, the credit can be valuable. Contact us with questions or for more information about your situation.

Holly Pett, CPA, EA
D 262.404.2109
Numerous Tax Limits Affecting Businesses Have Increased for 2022
Many tax limits that affect businesses are annually indexed for inflation, and a number of them have increased for 2022. Here’s a rundown of those that may be important to you and your business.

Social Security Tax

The amount of an employee’s earnings that is subject to Social Security tax is capped for 2022 at $147,000 (up from $142,800 in 2021).

Deductions

  • Standard business milea ge rate, per mile: 58.5 cents (up from 56 cents in 2021)
  • Section 179 expensing:
  • Limit: $1.08 million (up from $1.05 million in 2021)
  • Phaseout: $2.7 million (up from $2.62 million)
  • Income-based phase-out for certain limits on the Sec. 199A qualified business income deduction begins at:
  • Married filing jointly: $340,100 (up from $329,800 in 2021)
  • Single filers: $170,050 (up from $164,900)

Business Meals

In 2022 and 2021, the deduction for eligible business-related food and beverage expenses provided by a restaurant is 100% (up from 50% in 2020).

Retirement Plans

  • Employee contributions to 401(k) plans: $20,500 (up from $19,500 in 2021)
  • Catch-up contributions to 401(k) plans: $6,500 (unchanged)
  • Employee contributions to SIMPLEs: $14,000 (up from $13,500)
  • Catch-up contributions to SIMPLEs: $3,000 (unchanged)
  • Combined employer/employee contributions to defined contribution plans: $61,000 (up from $58,000)
  • Maximum compensation used to determine contributions: $305,000 (up from $290,000)
  • Annual limit for defined benefit plans: $245,000 (up from $230,000)
  • Compensation defining a highly compensated employee: $135,000 (up from $130,000)
  • Compensation defining a “key” employee: $200,000 (up from $185,000)

Other Employee Benefits

  • Qualified transportation fringe-benefits employee income exclusion: $280 per month (up from $270 per month)
  • Health Savings Account contributions:
  • Individual coverage: $3,650 (up from $3,600)
  • Family coverage: $7,300 (up from $7,200)
  • Catch-up contribution: $1,000 (unchanged)
  • Health care Flexible Spending Account contributions: $2,850 (up from $2,750)

These are only some of the tax limits that may affect your business and additional rules may apply. Contact us if you have questions.

Art Raak, CPA
D 507.252.6670
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